Automatic coupling



NOV. 24, 1931. v FARMER 1,832,898

AUTOMATIC COUPLING Filed Oct. 5, 1927 J" r l' 7 I I w" y III: I,

INVENTOR CLYDE F'ARMER W flaw? ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLYDE C. FARMER, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE WESTING- HOUSE AIR BRAKE COMPANY, OF WILMERDING, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA AUTOMATIC COUPLING Application filed October 3, 1927. Serial No. 223,535.

This invention relates to automatic couplings of the type employed on railway cars for connecting fluid pressure carrying train lines between the cars of a train With certain types of automatic trainline' connectors, the connector is carried by the car coupling or draw-bar and is subject to a springresistance of such force as required to ensure that the connectors will properly couple and at the same time provide for a yielding movement of the connector to accommodate and permit relative longitudinal movement of the car couplers. With a spring resistance of sutficient force to ensure the coupling up of the connectors, the pressure of the spring acting after the cars are coupled tends to interfere with the proper action of the car coupler.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an automatic fluid pressure train line connector having means by which a force is exerted suflicient to ensure the coupling of the connectors, but adapted to exert a reduced pressure after the cars are coupled.

In the accompanying drawing, the single figure is aview of a car coupler having an automatic train line connector associated therewith and showing my invention applied thereto.

In the drawing, the reference numeral l indicates the usual car coupler having the usual coupler shank 2. Secured to the car coupler is a yoke 3 in which an. automatic train line connector 4 is supported and is adapted to slide longitudinally. The connector 4 is provided with a rearwardly extending bar or stem 5 which slidably extends through an opening in a bracket 6, which bracket is secured to the coupler shank 2.

Interposcd between the rear end of the connector 4 and the bracket 6 and surrounding the stem 5 is a coil spring 7 which is adapted to yieldingly resist relative movement of the connector 4 with respect to the car coupler 1.

Rigid with the car body is a bracket 8,

- which can also be the yoke supporting the coupler shank 2, and having a cylindrical chamber 9 opening at its lower end and containing a member 10 on which is pivotally mounted a roller 11. The member 10 has a.

as the cars move together, movement of the connector 4 on each car is resisted by. the pressure of the spring 13 holding the roller 11 inengagement with the cam face 14. The resistance to rearward movement of the connector 4 thus set up is suflicient to ensure the coupling movement of the counterpart connectors 4. After the connectors 4 have been coupled, further movement of the two cars toward each other causes the rollers 11 to ride up over the cam faces 14, so as to relieve the connectors of the resistance to movement as set up by the engagement of the rollersll with the cam facesl4 The movement of the connectors is then resisted only. by the pressure of the springs 7 which are relatively of light resistance The car couplers 1 then couple up and after the car couplers are coupled, relative movement between the car couplers is only resisted by the force exerted bythe light springs 7 which need only be of sufficient force to ensure movement of the connectors 4 to normal position, when cars are uncoupled.

While one illustrative embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, it is not my intention to limit its scope to that embodimentor otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims. 1

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is p 1. The combination with a fluid pressure train line connectoradapted to automatically couple with a counterpart connector upon the coming together of two cars, of aresist lot ance device laterally movable and longitudinally rigid with respect to the connector and disposed in the path of rearward movement of said connector for resisting movement of the connector in the act of coupling with a counterpart connector, said device being moved out of the path of said connector upon a predetermined increase in the force applied to move said connector rearwardly for. automatically relieving the connector of the resisting force of said device after counterpart connectors are coupled up.

2. The combination with a fluid pressure train line connector adapted to automatic ally couple with a counterpart connector upon thecoming together of two cars, of a resistance device laterally movable and longitudinally'rigid with respect to the connector for opposing rearward longitudinal movement ofthe connector in the act of coupling with a counterpart connector, and means operating automatically to relieve the connector of the resisting force of said device after thecounterpart connectors are coupled and the force exerted through the connectors eX- ceeds the force required to effect the coupling of said connectors.

3. The'combination with a train pipe connector, of a member movable laterally with respect to the-connector and engaging a cam face associated-with said connector and disposed to-oppose relative longitudinal movement of the connector through engagement of the cam face with said member, and a springpressing said member into engagement with said cam face, to thereby oppose movement of said connector with a force in excess ofthe force required to eflect the coupling of said connector with a counterpart connector;

4. The combination with a train pipe connector, of means for yieldingly resisting rearwardmovement of said connector comprising amember movable laterally with respect 'to the connector and engaging a rearwardly facing projection associated with the connector'and a spring pressing said member into engagement with said face to thereby oppose movement of said connector with a force in excess of the force required to effect the coupling of said connector with a counterpart connector.

5. The combination with a car coupler and a train pipe connector movably supported by said car coupler and means for opposing movement of said connector relative to the car coupler comprising a member movable laterally with respect to the connector and normally engaging a rearwardly facing projection associated with the connector and a spring-for pressing said member into en gagement with said projection to thereby oppose movementof said connector with a force in excess of the force required to elfect the coupling of said connector with a counterpart connector.

6. The combination with a car coupler and a train pipe connector movably supported by said car coupler and means for opposing movement of said connector relative to the car coupler comprising a member movable laterally with respect to the connector and normally engaging a projection associated with the connector and a spring for pressing said member into engagement with said face, said member being lorced out of engagement with said projection when the pressure acting through the connector and tending to move the connector relatively to said member, eX- ceeds the force required to eifect the coupling of said connector with. a counterpart con nector.

7. The combination with a train pipe connector adapted to automatically couple with the connector exceeds the pressure requlred' to effect the coupling of counterpart connectors.

8. The combination with a train pipe connector adapted to automatically couple with a counterpart connector when two cars. are brought together, and a spring for opposing rearward movement of said connector, a member movable laterally with respect to the connector and engaging a rearwardly facing projection associated with the connector, and

a spring acting on said member for pressing said member into engagement with said projection to oppose rearward movementof said connector in such manner that the force opposing rearward movement of the connector exceeds the force required to effect the coupling of said connector to the counterpart connector.

9. The combination with a fluid pressure train line connector adapted to automatically couple with a counterpart connector upon the comingtogether of two cars, of a projecting portion on said connector, and a member laterally movable and longitudinally rigid with respect to the connector and engaging said portion and positioned to yieldingly oppose rearward longitudinal movement of said portion and thereby said connector.

10. The combination with a fluid pressure train line connector adapted to automatically couple with a counterpart connector upon the coming together of two cars, of'a projecting cam face-carried by said connector, and a member laterally movable and longitudinally rigid with respect tothe connector-and engaging said face and positioned in the path of rearward longitudinal movement of said face to yieldingly oppose rearward longitudinal movement of said face and thereby said connector.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CLYDE G. FARMER. 

